He had hoped to get all the way to Ghent the previous day, but they were several miles short of their destination, and he’d decided not to push the horses any more than necessary even if it took them longer to arrive in Brussels.
Throughout the day, the traffic grew heavier with people both on foot, by horse, farm wagon, and carriage.
A few worried souls even tried to convince him to turn around, always with the same warning. “Napoleon will march north soon. They say his army is so large it will destroy Wellington’s forces.”
Geoff thanked them for their advice, but shortly after noon, he began to grow concerned. At one point he rode up to the coach and asked Elizabeth if she was sure she did not wish to turn back. As expected, she told him to press on.
Still he wavered back and forth between her immediate safety, and the possibility that they might become separated, putting her at more of a risk than she already was.
He finally put the question to her in a slightly different way. “Would you like to go back to Ghent?”
She narrowed her eyes at him and was silent for several moments before answering, “Why would I do that?”
“You might be safer.” Even as he said the words he knew he could never let her go. No one would do as much to keep her from harm as he would.
Her countenance relaxed. “No, I would rather continue on. At this point, by the time I could return to Ghent, we shall be in Brussels. I would rather make the journey only once.”
That was true enough. “Very well.”
She had thought to have a basket packed, and he ate a sandwich while riding. By dark, they had only made it as far as Asse, and Geoff called a halt for the night.
Elizabeth climbed stiffly out of the coach. “Thank you for stopping. I know you wanted to reach Brussels this evening, but this way we will be able to send the servants to the house to make it ready before we arrive.”
“It amazes me how you always find the good side of situations.” He tucked her hand in his arm to steady her.
She shrugged. “There is no point in belaboring the bad points when there is nothing one can do to change them.” They strolled around the garden in back of the hotel while Nettle and Vickers saw to their rooms. “I would like to know what is going on. All we have heard is that Napoleon is coming north. Yet we have heard nothing of what Wellington is planning.”
“Mayhap someone at the inn will know,” Geoff said to appease her. Although he doubted the innkeeper would know more than anyone else they’d come across today.
His military friends had told him cannons and other weapons could be heard many miles away from the actual fighting. How many miles away he didn’t know. Thus far they had not heard anything indicating the armies were engaged. It would be a relief to reach Brussels where all their questions could be answered.
Following the routine they had fallen into, they rose early. The previous day, Nettle consulted the landlord’s map of Brussels to find the address of the house Geoff’s father had rented for them.
Unfortunately, the innkeeper was unable to tell Geoff where he might be able to find the English delegation in Brussels.
Most of their servants left just before dawn, leaving him with his wife, her lady’s maid, a housemaid—no one had bothered to explain why the girl did not accompany the housekeeper—the grooms, and one footman.
Just as their party reached the outskirts of Brussels they were met by news that the Corsican had taken Wellington by surprise and that Napoleon was marching north.
Geoff galloped up to Elizabeth’s coach. “If you do not mind, I’m going to ride into the city. If anyone will know where I can find Sir Charles, it will be the Duchess of Richmond who is a friend of my mother’s. At least I know her address. It is not much farther. Do you feel comfortable traveling the rest of the way or would you like to find a place to wait until I return?”
“I shall be fine,” Elizabeth replied with the aplomb he was coming to expect from her. “I am quite sure that if this fight was over, we would be seeing British troops coming this way.”
“I’ll see you later then.” He wanted to hold her, and kiss her, and tell her she was the bravest woman he knew. Instead, he rode off, sticking to the sides of the roads to avoid the exodus of people now filling the road.
Once he arrived at the duchess’s house, she had, indeed, been able to direct Geoff to Sir Charles’s residence. Yet, when Geoff arrived there, he was directed to Wellington’s headquarters onrue Royale. Luckily, Sir Charles was just coming down the steps as Geoff road up to the building.
“Good day, Sir Charles,” Geoff said, holding out his hand.
“Lord Harrington, well met. I’m glad you’ve arrived.” The older man clasped his hand warmly. “Come walk with me, and I shall tell you what has been going on. Do you have a place to live?”
“Yes, sir. My father arranged it. I rode ahead of my wife to see you, but our servants should have been there a few hours ago. It’s onrue Zinner.”
“Yes, yes.” Sir Charles nodded. “Good location. Across the park from here and on a small street. How was your crossing?”
“As well as could be expected. For the past two days we’ve seen a steady stream of people headed for Ostend and Antwerp.”
“No matter that nothing has yet occurred there are always those who will panic.” The older man shook his head. “I look forward to meeting Lady Harrington. In the meantime, there is a great deal to be done. I congratulate you on having the forethought to send your servants ahead.”
